Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔及北广场)

Just like the Statue of Liberty in New York, or the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is the most symbolic structure in Xi’an.

The seven-story, 64-meter pagoda was built 1,300 years ago when Xi'an was the capital of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

The top of the pagoda provides a grand view of the old town -- busy roads stretch out neatly like the grid on a chessboard, lined by a mix of ancient architecture and modern high-rises.

The pagoda was said to have been dedicated to Xuanzang, a master monk during the Tang Dynasty who traveled to India to learn Buddhism and later brought back the sutras. His experience was featured in the Chinese novel “Journey to the West.”

The 110,000-square-meter plaza at the foot of the pagoda is where the locals go for free public entertainment.

Elderly and young Xi’anese practice calligraphy with oversize brushes during the summer evenings.

The plaza hosts a half-hour musical fountain performance at 12:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and every two hours between noon and 9 p.m. at the weekend.

City Wall (明代城墙)

Built more than 600 years ago in the Ming Dynasty, the City Wall of Xi’an is one of the best preserved fortifications in China.

And the best way to see the Wall is by bike.

Visitors are allowed to cycle on the wall, which is 15 meters wide. Cyclists will be able to view the city from a unique angle -- on one side stands the Xi’an from the past; on the other hand erects soaring high-rises of the present and future.

"Xi’anese live by the City Wall,” says Jessie Wang (王苗), 28, from Xi’an. “You can see people playing Mahjong, singing and dancing under the wall."

The Wall stretches 13.74 kilometers in length, 12 meters in height and was built with earth, quicklime, and glutinous rice extract.

Four watchtowers are located at each point of the compass. The Southern Watch Tower, aka the Southern Gate, is the main grand gate through which important guests entered the town in ancient times.

Bicycles can be rented at the Southern Water Tower. RMB 40 for a single bike and RMB 80 for a tandem, both for 100 minutes.

Muslim Quarter (回民街)

The smell of mutton fills the air.

Chinese historians think Xi’an was the starting point of the Silk Road, an ancient trade route linking China with the Middle East and Europe. From cuisine to clothing, the city is deeply influenced by Islamic culture.

Xi’an’s Islamic heritage is best observed in the Muslim Quarter, or Huimin Jie in Mandarin, located in the center of Xi’an old town.

Like Chinatowns, Muslim Quarter is the community for local Muslim Hui people, a Muslim ethnic group in China. The 1,800-square-meter neighborhood has 10 mosques and more than 20,000 Hui inhabitants.

It’s also one of the best food streets in Xi’an. Narrow alleys are packed with tiny restaurants and that spill out onto the street.